The storyline is about a poor Jewish Boy, Ari, and his family who are from Jerusalem. They are living among diverse cultures during the Ottoman Empire. Following the death of his father, Ari's family faces financial hardship. Their luck changes when they learn that an inheritance was left to their family and needs to be retrieved from the city of Cairo. As the oldest son, Ari volunteers to make the dangerous trip to Cairo to collect the inheritance but he faces a variety of challenges both before and during his travels. Decisions have to be made by Ari and he is guided by his deep-rooted faith, which is key to his survival.
This is a great family film. Ariel is an artistic masterpiece with valuable teachings. I truly enjoyed that the story takes place during an historical time and the background choices are perfect for the plot. I found Ari's journey to be engaging and appreciate that he never waivers from his religious beliefs. The symbolism throughout the film is powerful, especially with the lion, making the film easy to connect to. The film is creative, full of adventure, and extremely enjoyable. The animation is on the simplistic side but the camera angles and close-ups capture the characters perfectly. The animation is effective and allows the viewer to connect to the story. The characters' mouths don't completely sync up with their speaking lines but the images are incredibly artistic and very pleasing. The attire worn by the characters are characteristic of what people wore during the Ottoman Empire. For both men and woman, the clothing is loose fitting and headgear is worn. The backgrounds suit the story very well; they allow the viewer to get a sense of the environment during the time period and give a sense of the diversity that existed among the Ottoman Sultans. Some homes are ornate and well-furnished; while others are quite simple with few items. The village scenes depict a variety of people from different cultures. The background music and sound effects reflect the culture and fit perfectly with the time period. The Middle Eastern music is distinctive with an Arabic sound fused with jazz. Many string instruments are heard. The music is upbeat and cheerful which suits the adventure within the film.
I credit the director, C.A. MacFinn for his success in handling the execution of this film so well. The timing of the actions, well-designed characters, and culturally artistic backdrops add to the film's visual effects and bring the story to life. The voice-over talent performs quite well. The voice of the protagonist, Ari (Daniel Sean Smith) is age appropriate and portrays the teen boy perfectly with a voice full of a variety of emotions and adapting to the mood of each scene. Ari's mother, Yasmina (Clare Kohavi)'s voice sounds just like a mom's - at times stern when trying to prove her point and loud and expressive when showing excitement. My favorite part of the film is when Ari decides that his faith is stronger than getting to Cairo with the fast caravan and stays behind to honor Shabbat. This scene is full of drama and sadness as Ari chooses to stay behind; it leaves the viewer wondering if he will succumb to the harsh conditions of the desert. Something truly magical happens in the day that follows his departure from the group. Ari soon learns that he's not alone and his strong faith has saved him.
The film's message is about being true to your beliefs. Ari faced several struggles while undertaking his journey. When asked to falter from his religious beliefs, even if it meant giving up on his mission, Ari stands firm and choses to travel to Cairo on his own terms. As a result, he is taken care of by the "Holy One," which was brought to him by the "Lion of God." This message highlights how God works in magical ways for the good of his children.
I give Ariel 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Dominic D. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
The storyline is about a poor Jewish Boy, Ari, and his family who are from Jerusalem. They are living among diverse cultures during the Ottoman Empire. Following the death of his father, Ari's family faces financial hardship. Their luck changes when they learn that an inheritance was left to their family and needs to be retrieved from the city of Cairo. As the oldest son, Ari volunteers to make the dangerous trip to Cairo to collect the inheritance but he faces a variety of challenges both before and during his travels. Decisions have to be made by Ari and he is guided by his deep-rooted faith, which is key to his survival.
This is a great family film. Ariel is an artistic masterpiece with valuable teachings. I truly enjoyed that the story takes place during an historical time and the background choices are perfect for the plot. I found Ari's journey to be engaging and appreciate that he never waivers from his religious beliefs. The symbolism throughout the film is powerful, especially with the lion, making the film easy to connect to. The film is creative, full of adventure, and extremely enjoyable. The animation is on the simplistic side but the camera angles and close-ups capture the characters perfectly. The animation is effective and allows the viewer to connect to the story. The characters' mouths don't completely sync up with their speaking lines but the images are incredibly artistic and very pleasing. The attire worn by the characters are characteristic of what people wore during the Ottoman Empire. For both men and woman, the clothing is loose fitting and headgear is worn. The backgrounds suit the story very well; they allow the viewer to get a sense of the environment during the time period and give a sense of the diversity that existed among the Ottoman Sultans. Some homes are ornate and well-furnished; while others are quite simple with few items. The village scenes depict a variety of people from different cultures. The background music and sound effects reflect the culture and fit perfectly with the time period. The Middle Eastern music is distinctive with an Arabic sound fused with jazz. Many string instruments are heard. The music is upbeat and cheerful which suits the adventure within the film.
I credit the director, C.A. MacFinn for his success in handling the execution of this film so well. The timing of the actions, well-designed characters, and culturally artistic backdrops add to the film's visual effects and bring the story to life. The voice-over talent performs quite well. The voice of the protagonist, Ari (Daniel Sean Smith) is age appropriate and portrays the teen boy perfectly with a voice full of a variety of emotions and adapting to the mood of each scene. Ari's mother, Yasmina (Clare Kohavi)'s voice sounds just like a mom's - at times stern when trying to prove her point and loud and expressive when showing excitement. My favorite part of the film is when Ari decides that his faith is stronger than getting to Cairo with the fast caravan and stays behind to honor Shabbat. This scene is full of drama and sadness as Ari chooses to stay behind; it leaves the viewer wondering if he will succumb to the harsh conditions of the desert. Something truly magical happens in the day that follows his departure from the group. Ari soon learns that he's not alone and his strong faith has saved him.
The film's message is about being true to your beliefs. Ari faced several struggles while undertaking his journey. When asked to falter from his religious beliefs, even if it meant giving up on his mission, Ari stands firm and choses to travel to Cairo on his own terms. As a result, he is taken care of by the "Holy One," which was brought to him by the "Lion of God." This message highlights how God works in magical ways for the good of his children.
I give Ariel 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Dominic D. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
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